Extraordinary Africa>Tanzania>Zanzibar and Stone Town>Echo Beach
Sue and Andrew Page, owners of Echo Beach Hotel, came to Zanzibar with one plan in mind- a mission to create one of the the island’s most welcoming boutique guest houses, and after several years of work, it’s impressive to see what they’ve achieved.
What’s Echo Beach Hotel like?
Echo Beach has nine, pretty, unfussy whitewashed villas, housing 12 rooms (some upstairs, some downstairs), scattered amongst gardens of palm trees and bougainvillea. Rooms are a stylish mix of brightly coloured fabrics and paint, alongside traditionally carved wooden beds, draped with mosquito gauze, and sparkling Italian-tiled bathrooms. Each of Echo Beach’s rooms has its own terrace, complete with Zanzibari day beds- perfect for a languorous afternoon snooze as you’re sleeping off a lunchtime glass of wine.
Andrew is your chef, and food mixes Swahili style with that of France, where Sue and Andrew lived for 14 years. There’s plenty of local fish and sea food, with curries, coconut and cardamom reflecting Zanzibar’s varied heritage. While Andrew’s occupied in the kitchen, Sue is your hostess, aided by her charming team and friendly dogs.
What can I do at Echo Beach Hotel?
Outside, the beach, just in front of the hotel, is typical east coast Zanzibar– a glorious stretch of white powder with turquoise water lapping gently at its shores. Like all of the beaches on Zanzibar, it’s pretty tidal, but Echo Beach has a lovely pool to take a dip in when the ocean recedes. There’s a simple airy spa, ideal for a massage that’ll leave you floating away from the massage table, and a kite surfing school down on the beach. Beyond this, Sue can help you arrange tours all over Zanzibar, and will go to considerable lengths to help you out- all you need to do is ask….
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